of covington



P 10, 1929- G. B. WADSWORTH 1,728,143

SWITCH BOX Original Filed Oct. 11, 1917 things, thewires may beconnected up Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PAT-Eur orrlic i GEORGE B. wnnswon'rn, OF COVINGTON,KENTUCKY, AssIcNofa 'ro TnE' wA'nswoRTn ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY,or COVINGTON,,KEN'1 UCK|Y,'A 00320311 TION OF KENTUCKY.

SWITCH BOX.

Original application .filed October 11, 1917, Serial No. 196,023;:Divided and this application 'filed October 6, 1921. Serial No.505,696.

My invention has relation'to safety switch boxes of the type which shutoff the switch before exposing the fuses, and to devices of this naturemore. particularly where the switch cannot be closed without closing offthe fuses as well. This case is a divisional application from myco-pen'ding application filed October 11, 1917, Serial No. 196,023.

The great di culty in making a market for safety switc boxes in ordinarydomestic or commercial installation is the-,expense of the devices whichhave been hitherto devised. In the first place it is desirable in aswitch box, if it be used for preventing theft of current from the fusesor switch points,- that the lid be a sliding'one', A hinged lid for thefuses is diflicult to bring down tight enough to prevent a smallwirebeing run out from the fuses.

Then again, a heavy cast box, or a box of the usual type wherein theparts are welded together, requires so much labor'and material that theadvantages'to be gained by their. use is-to a large degree offset by theexpense of manufacture.

It is the object of my invention to pro? vide a switch box of thetheft-preventing pattern, in which the parts are made of sheet metal inthe fewest possible number, and in which the container portion of thebox, including also the meter protector casing at the top of the box arestruck out so as to be interlocking, and to make a pure assembly jobwithout any soldering, riveting or the like.

Itis also my object to provide a box which complies to the full with allpresent laws and rules of fire protection, and in which the usual knifeblade pattern of switch may be used, and in which the fuse compartmentis shut off entirely before the switch is closed.

Generally the object is to provide a box of the safety andtheft-preventing pattern which can be put out cheaply and still pro videthe greatest possible number of advantageous features from the point ofview of installation and use. Thus among other to my box while it ispartly attached to the wall ,and still open, prior to assembling the 5balance of the parts thereof-l Also-itheboxi'. may be shipped inknockdown condition,- thereby saving considerable, freight charges.

Theseiobjects and other; advantages, as .55 will appear from the-.-following description, 2

I accomplish .by that certain Iconst'ruction.

and arran ement of partszto be Ehereinafter'i more specifically pointedo'utwand .cla-imed In the drawings, I: 4;; Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the box complete.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section there of, showing the lidslightly-removed fromplace on the box. v Figure 3 is a detailsection ofthe-spring" catch for the sliding lid, taken on the line 4, 4,-of Figure4. l dFigure 4 is a bottom .plan view of the 1 i 1 ;Figure 5 is aplanView of the switch mechanism. 1 In the embodiment of my invention shownin the drawings for illustrative purposes, the containerrproper is.formed ,up in a 575 three-sided structure having .a base 1 and sides 2and 3. A little forward of the center line ofthebox, atthe ends, thereare formed on the sides the. tongues 4, 4,- one of which as at 5 islongerythan the rest to serve as a sealing or locking plate for theswitch, as will be described. The base is turned up to form fiangesfi,6, at each end for holding the end pieces. The ends of the box comprisea plainlower end 7 which fits under the flange 6, and enga es over theoutside of the sides 2 and 3 Ty means of flanges 8, 8. Cut in the ends 7are-slots to permit the passage of the tongue 4 at one side and thespecial tongue 5 at the other. j

The end now described forms the bottom of the box when it issecuredagainst a wallboardor the like, with the base .of v the boxforming the part that is secured j95 to the wall. 5

The top of the box .is formed of a plate 9, which fits down inside ofthe flange 6, and engages over the sides 2, 3, by means of flanges 10.There are slots in this piece also for the two tongues 4 at the upperend of the box.

There is a cut-away opening 11 in the top which provides a passage forwires from the interior of the box to a meter adapter. or casin Themetal of the piece is bent over: in arming this hole 11 so as to form alocking abutment flange 13 for the metenadapter and slideways 14, 14, beneflthfwhich the adapter is moved into plsicjand'whichthen hold it downfirmly against the top 9, over the hole 11 therein.

This adapter is made of two pieces. The main-portion is. atliree-sidedstamping having a back 15 and two sides 16, 16. The

exact relation of adapter and box forms no part ofzitlueinventionint-hisfapplication andtireuierence isl-made to my application,aboveifnoted, for a description thereof.

-The;iuses;25,-lwhiehmay be of any type usuallyzemployed'ifonelectricli=ghting, electric'motorsand'the like are mounted on a plate 26in theusual manner. This plate iszsupported on a. stamping-which is setinto the box and. locks the meter adapter :-in place, as described in myformer application. 1

Located in the base of the box is a switch block 33; havingbifiureat'edswitch points 34s, 34, and 35, 35;; An ordinary double switch blade 36is hinged between the points as, 34s,-of the switch-and eloses byswinging upwardly into-- contact with the points 35.

Mounted in the side of the box is a small 35 stub shaft"?! operated b ahandle38 ex- .;';terior of the box. This sliaft connects with ayeke-39'that extends across the box over the switch. The switch operatorhas-a long loop QO of suitablewi re or the-like, to form 40 ti-slottedmember to'engage over the yokeat its central portion. When th'e= handleis turned, the yoke 39"w-i ll's win-g upwardly or downwardly as the casemay be. Theloop on the switchb-laderuns about parallel with the bladeandthus-the first part of the mo- '=tion of the yoke will move the bladebut slightly. VYllQIl' the yoke-has passed the center of its motion' andbegins to bear down against the switch blade, it will cause the bladetoswing downinto contact. On reversing the handle, the opposite willoccur and the switch contact will be broken before the yoke has made buta small proportion ofits movement, The lid for the boxcomprises a bodypor- -'tion4l having flanges 42 around all four sides for lapping thesides and ends of the box proper. At thecentral portion of the flange,at the upper end of the lid. is a reentrant tongue43, that when the lidis set in place is inserted in; a slot 44 in the upper end plate of thebox. An outwardly extending tongue 45 is provided on the lower end pieceof the box and the lid is slotted to come down over this tongue.

A padlock can be inserted in the eye -16 of the tongue 45, which willlock the lid in place. The lid holds the upper end piece againstremoval, which holds the meter adapter. The lower end piece is held alsoby the padlock and tongue, so that a box completely locked together isformed, without brazing or soldering, with the parts interlocked andeasily assembled. lVhen it is considered that wiring may be done in thisbox, after it has been installed on the wall and the box then puttogether, the value of the knockdown structure is further apparent. Alsothe sides of the main container portion are springy enough to be nestedsuch that the box may be shipped knockdown with a considerable economy.

As so far described, the box has within it a switch, and a separatecompartment for fuses, cut off from the switch altogether-and lifted offthe base of the box entirely. The lid when closed is adapt-ed to cutoilthe -.switch entirely from accessibility, but anopening 47 is termedin the lid to give access to the fuses.

Running along the edges on the under side of the lid are two guideflanges 48,48, formed of metal strips bent lengthwise and screwed upagainst the under face of the lid. Running in these guides is a slidingshutter-49 for the opening 47. The shutter has dependingfingers 50, 50,at each side whichf lie in the path of the yoke 39. When the yoke isswung upwardly, the fingers 50; 50'," are thrust upwardly and theshutter is moved over the opening- 47. \Vhen the yoke is retracted, thefingers are free to tal -land bringthe shutter to open position.

The dimensions of the shutter are suchthat it will be in position toclose the opening when the yoke is about midway of its movement Theswitch is then closed with but slightmorement of the lid. The lostmotion in the loop that is attached to the switch bar permits theextended motion of the lid without equally affecting the switch, sincethe yoke transmit-s motion on a much longer line to the shutter than tothe switch bar. The final downward movement of the yoke whichaccomplishes the closing of the switclr does not, as has been noted,impart muchmove ment to the shutter.

If it is desired that the opening of the switch move the shutterpositively downward. it is then necessaryto provide a slot 51 for thefingers 50, and to place the yoke in engagement with the slot whenassembling the box. The fingers are on the sides ofthe shutter and hencedo not interfere with the switch bar movement.

\Vhen the slots 51 are not used. a device is preferably provided forholding thefuse cover or shutter in closed position after it has beenfreed for downward movement by the opening of the switch. This in mostsimple form comprises a small spring plate 52 mounted along one of theshutter guides, and projecting into the path of a turned over tab 53 onthe shutter. A button 54 is set into the lid, and has a .knob 55 on itsouter end on the outside of the lid. The button lies between the lid andthe spring plate, and pushing on the knob raises the plate out ofposition of engagement under the tab 53 on the shutter.

For retaining the lid in place in case it should be forgotten to padlockthe same to the tongue 45, it is preferred to have a spring catch.Preferably a bent finger 55 is mounted on the inside of the lower endpiece of the box. This finger projects through the end piece, and has asecond extension 56 through the end of the box for a release. The flangeof'the lid has a hole 57 therein into which the projecting portion ofthe pin will engage automatically when the lid is thrust home over thebox.

Should it be desired to permanently ground the meter adapter to the bodyof, the box against all chance of insulating due to the japannin on themetal, a screw 58 may be turned into the adapter sheil at any desiredpoint.

One of the advantages of the structure desired is that it will permit ofdoing away altogether with the complicated and expensive wiring formeter boards in instal lations in apartment and office buildings. Allthat is needed for a number of installations is a number of the boxes.They may be set side by side and the service mains run through the rowof boxes, through the holes 59, in the sides of the boxes. The fusecompartments are removable and raised from the bases of the boxes sothat the space through the boxes is an enclosed wire gutter which isreadily available. The meters will be set in the adapters in each box,and as many more boxes as are desired may be set in line.

The removability of the fuse chambers, and the fact that they are raisedfrom the base of the box greatly facilitates wiring up the switch andthe fuses and meter from the box. The removable ends and lid permit thebinding posts on the switch to be reached easily, which is not the casein safety boxes which have been brought to my attention.

Then again the boxes may be made up with or without the meter adapterwithout departing from the construction of the rest of the box, and alsothe ends will be interchangeable so that the meter adapter can be put oneither end of the box as desired.

The great economy of the box, its ready locking facilities and easyinstallation resulting from the knockdown structure and the arrangementof parts make it a valuable electric installation device, in place ofthe usual nonprotective switch, without taking into consideration theprotection against shock in removal of fuses, and the preven tion oftheft of current.

From the point of view of perfection of mechanical details of thedevice, it should be noted that the crank works direct on the yoke whichitself is pern'ianently connected to the switch, such that no relianceis had on sliding switch closing bars, or connections from the shutterto the switch bar which might result in a partial closing of the switchand its attendant dangers. In closing a shutter, one pulls it shut, andfeels that this is sufiicient, but a crank will be turned as far as itwill go.

\Vhen the switch handle is locked down and the switch is open, the fusesmay still be covered up by the shutter so as not to be exposed in anunsightly manner.

It should be noted that it is not essential that the fuse mounting meansshall be the one that is removable from the box so as to provide thewire gutter that is available for further connections, since the switchmember might be the removable one. At this time I cannot see thepossibility of complying with proper practice and still placing theswitch in a removable, raised shell or compartment member, andaccordingly do not show or describe this as a. modification of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a safety box for electrical installations a box, a switch and afuse in the box, a movable lid on the box giving access to the interiorthereof, an opening in the lid giving access to the fuse only, a shutterfor said opening slidably mounted adjacent to and in the plane of theopening, an operating handle for the switch external to the box, aprojection from the shutter, and means within the box connected operablywith the handle and adapted to contactuaily engage the shutterprojection to prevent its operation when the switch is closed, saidshutter projection also preventing the closing of the switch when theshutter is open, said shutter and projection being so proportioned thatboth ends of the shutter overlap the two ends of the lid opening whenthe switch is closed and the projection on the shutter and meansoperated by the handle being free of interlocking engagement whereby theswitch may be opened without opening the fuse shutter, said box having areleasable latch for holding the shutter closed when the switch is open.

2. In a device of the character described. the combination with a box, aswitch in said box, a blade-for said switch, a fuse access opening inthe box. a closure therefor. a yoke in said box, said yoke being adaptedto engage the closure, and a slotted engagement member on the switchblade for said yoke, whereby the movement of the yoke will close theshutter well ahead of the closing of the switch.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a box, aswitch in said box, a closing blade for said switch, a fuse accessopening in the box, a closure therefor, a yoke in said box, said yokebeing compartment, a sliding door to the fuse compartment, an oppratingmember for the switch in the nature of a bail, means exterior of the boxfor revolving the bad, a member on the sliding door adapted to becontrolled in its position by the bail movement, and a member on theblade portion of the switch having an elongated-slot in which the bailengages, whereby additional movement of the bail may be provided afterthe switch blade is closed.

5. In an electric switch, a cabinet, a switch therein having a blade, anoperating member for the blade having its ends pivoted in the sides ofthe box and otherwise formed into a bail to straddle the switch and apiece fixed non-slidably on the blade having an elongated slot to engagethe straddling portion of the operating member centrally thereof, saidbail and blade so arranged that the slot acts as a cam to require thebail to pass through a greater are to effect complete closure of theswitch blade, than in effecting a like movement when bringing it intoposition ready for contact.

6. In an electric switch, a cabinet, a switch therein having a blade, anoperating member for the blade having its ends pivoted in the sides ofthe box and otherwise formed into a bail to straddle the switch and apiece fixed non-slidably on the blade having an elongated slot to engagethe straddling portion of the operating member centrally thereof, saidpiece on the blade being located centrally thereof, said bail and bladeso arranged that the slot acts as a cam to require the bail to passthrough a greater are to effect complete closure of the switch blade,than in effecting a like movement when bringing it into position readyfor contact.

7. In combination, a switch cabinet, a

a direction toward the compartment forming element, a movable cover todisclose the fuses in said compartment forming element withoutdisclosing the switch, and an interlock between the blade operatingmeans and the said cover, said switch and the compartment formingelement so arranged that one lies above the other within said cabinet.

GEORGE B. WADSXVORTH.

